Chanderpaul deserves send off with dignity, respect: Lara

Kingston: West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has severely criticised the Cricket Board's (WICB) move to axe Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the national team and has called for an honourary send-off to the veteran batsman by including him in two-Test home series against Australia.

The selectors, led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, left out 40-year-old Chanderpaul from the 12-member squad for the first Test against Australia, citing lack of form of the left-handed batsman over his last 11 innings, in which he averaged only 16.

But Lara feels the decision was just another example of the way the WICB disrespects its players.

"This has nothing to do with numbers or averages. What are they saying that Chanderpaul was given the last 11 innings to get the desired number of runs to break a record? This has absolutely nothing to do with runs or numbers. It has to do with respect and Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way," he said.

"In fact, he should be allowed to do it in his own way," Lara was quoted as saying by 'Trinidad and Tobago Guardian'.